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Patented Oct. 23,1894.

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No. 527,981. Patented Oct. 23, 1894..

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NrTED STATES PATENT OEEiCE.

CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR INTENSIFYING THE PRESSURE F COMPRESSED FLUID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,981dated October 23, 1894.

Application filed March 3, 18 93.

To all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, CAMPBELL P. HIGGINs, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Intensifying the Pressure of Compressed Fluids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for producing and maintaining high pressure of liquid or gaseous fluid, and is adapted for the supply of hydraulic power to be distributed in manufacturing plants for operating presses, or for other purposes.

The object of the invention isto intensify or increase the compression of the liquid or gaseous fluid by the motive power of the compressed Huid itself, beyond the degree of density immediately acquired from the generated source of power.

The invention employed in connection with a steam actuated compressor, serves to intensify or increase the degree of compression, by using a portion of the compressed uid, and moreover the invention servesto render the pressure uniform, automatically, irrespective of the amount of fluid used, or of the irregularities in its consumption.

In order toenable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, to understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe the details of its construction, explain its operation and subsequently point out` in the appended claims its novel characteristics.

Referringto the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout: Figure 1, is a vertical sectional elevation showing the various parts of the apparatus assembled in suitable relation; and Fig. 2, an enlarged sectional elevation showing the construction of the distributing valves in detail.

A, A', represent the motive cylinders of the apparatus; and B, B', the compression cylinders 'operated' respectively thereby. The

i cylinders A, and B, or A', and B', are of differential diameters, and differ in a proportion corresponding to the proportionate increase in the compression intended to be produced. All of the cylinders are single acting; the upper ones having Apistons a, and the lower ones plungers b. Suitable packings c,

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are provided to the plungers of the lower cylinders, and suitable packings d, to the pistons of the upper cylinders.

The pipe 2, is connected with the fluid under constant pressure, produced by the operation of the compressor to which the generated power is applied, and said pipe 2, has several branches as indicated. The branches 3, connect with the suction valves 4, 4, ofthe compression cylinders B, B. The branch 5, connects with the auxiliary Valve 6, which controls the valve actuating piston 7 through the pipe, 22. The branch 8, of the constant pressure pipe 2, connects with the two distributiug valves 9 and 10, pertaining respectively to the motive cylinders A, A.

11, 12, are the cylinder pipes through which the fluid controlled by valves 9 and 10, is introduced to the cylinders A, A', and then withdrawn through said valves, and discharged into a tank C, beneath.

15, is the high pressure or delivery pipe of the apparatus connected by branches 16, 16, to the respective discharge valves 17, 17, of the `compressors B, B.

The auxiliary valve 6, is mechanically operated` by means of the rock lever 18, fulcrumed at 19, projecting `upward at its respective extremities in a suitable position to be engaged with by the pistons a, a, of the two cylinders A, A', alternately in the manner indicated.

The construction of the distributing valves 9, 10, is more fullyillustrated in Fig. 2. The interior construction of the auxiliary valve 6, being analogous, an additional illustration 'of the same is omitted.

The actuating piston 7, in the cylinder 20, is permanently exposed at its lesser areabeneath to the pressure of the fluid introduced through pipes S, and 2l from pipe 2. The upper surface of the piston 7, having the greater area, is periodically exposed to the same pressure from pipe 2, 1 introduced through branches 5 and 22, and controlled by auxiliary valve 6, which ismechanically operated through lever 18, by the motion of pistons a, a. Thepiston 7, is reciprocated by the application and release of pressure on its greater area in the upper chamber of its cylinder 20, versus the constant pressure on itslesser area, in the lowerl chamber of said cylinder. piston 7, is connected imparts alternate intermittent motions to the Valves 9 and 10, according to the motions of said piston.

The distributing valves 9, 10,'and auxiliary valve 6, are each const-ructed of a central reciprocating plunger 26, Fig. 2, and a stationary perforated cage or cylindric -seat 27, having inlet ports 2S, and ports 29, the latter communicating in common with the upper end of the cylinder A, or A', through the pipe 11, or 12, as the case may be. The cage 27 is composed of separate sections with cup packin gs confined between them to separate the inlet and outlet passages 28, 29, 29, as seen. The sections are secured iirmly together by means of the clamping nuts 30, 31', at each end of the cylinder, and by the removal of which the sections may be readily taken out and the packing replenished. The valves 26, have two chambers 32, 33, in their respective ends. The chamber 32 with its openings forms the connecting passage between ports 28, and 29, when the plunger is raised, as at the right hand portion of Fig. 2. The chamber 33, and its openings, form the connecting passage between cylinder ports 29, and the discharge opening 34, when the plunger is depressed, as at the left hand portion of Fig. 2.

By the arrangement ot' the openings in the plunger, it will be observed that the one connection above described is severed before the other is made during the operation of the device.

The operation of the machine is as follows: In its application as a hydraulic compressor the automatic motion of the machine occurs according as the water, oil, or other liquid is consumed in the distribution of power for its various' purposes; the withdrawal of fluid from pipe 15, and cylinders B, I3', causing the one or the other plunger h, to follow according to the position of the valves 9, 10. The piston and plunger of cylinders A, B, are represented as having just descended and completed their downward stroke, and have thereupon movedthe lever 18, and auxiliary valve 6, to their upper position. The piston 7, is thereby depressed, moving the distributing valves 9, 10, to the position indicated, in which induction is established with cylinder A',-

from pipe 2, and eduction established between cylinder A, and outlet 34, of valve 9. Thepiston land plunger of cylinders A', B', at the upper extremity of their stroke are therefore about to descend by the application of the pressure of the fluid in pipe 2, upon the piston a, which exceeds the area of plunger b. The pistons a, a, of the cylinders A, A', then move simultaneously in opposite directions until the stroke of each is completed. The reversed distribution of the uid occurs when the piston a, of the cylinder A engages with the lever 18, and the automatic operation of the machine is repeated in an opposite direction, and so on continuously, as fast as the fluid is consumed. The motive cylin- The rock arm 25, to which said' der and compression cylinder of differential diameters being connected automatically to the same body of confined fluid, necessarily maintain the same relation of pressure between the inlet and the outlet of the apparatus, and the 'invention therefore operates not only as an intensifier of pressure, but as an equalizer for maintaining a constant working pressure irrespective of the rate of consumption.

Having thus fully described my invention, what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1'; In an apparatus for intensifying and equalizing a working fluid-pressure, the combination of a plurality of motor-cylinders and companion compression-cylinders of smaller diameter, the plungers of the latter forming an extension of the pistons of the former; valved inlet-pipes connecting the compression-cylinders with`a fluid pressure-supply,

and valved outlet-pipes connecting said cylinders with a Working-pressure distributingpipe; valves having their pistons connected by a rock-shaft and said Valves respectively connected with the motor-cylinders, for governing the inlet and outlet of fluid to and from said cylinders; an auxiliary valve for controlling the positions of said valves; and means, operated alternately by the pistons of the motor-cylinders, for shifting the auxiliary Valve, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In an apparatus for intensifying and equalizing a working fluid-pressure, the combination of a plurality of motor-cylindersand companion compression-cylinders of smaller diameter, the plungers of the latter forming an extension of the pistons of the former; valved inlet-pipes connecting the compression-cylinders with a iiuid pressure-supply, and valved outlet-pipes connecting said cylinders with a working-pressure distributingpipe 5 valves having their pistons connected by a rock-shaft and said valves respectively connected with the motor-cylinders, for governing the inlet and outlet of iiuid to and from said cylinders; a piston for shifting said Valves; an auxiliary valve for controlling said piston; and means, operated alternately by the pistons of the motor-cylinders for shifting the auxiliary valve, substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

3. In an apparatus for intensifying and equalizing a working fluid-pressure, the combination of a plurality of motor-cylinders and companion compression-cylinders of smaller diameter, the plungers of the latter forming an extension of the pistons of the former; valved inlet-pipes `connecting the compression-cylinders with a fluid pressure-supply, and valved outlet-pipes connecting said cylinders with a working-pressure distributingpipe; valves having their pistons connected by a rock-shaft and ysaid valves respectively connected with the motor-cylinders, for'governing the inlet and outlet of duid to and IOO ror;

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from said cylinders; an auxiliary valve for controlling the pistons of said valves; means,`

operated alternately by the pistons of the motor-cylinders, for shifting the auxiliary Valve; and pipe connections between all of` said valves and the source of fluid-supply to the compression-cylinders, whereby the said source furnishes all the iuid for the Working of, and distribution by the apparatus, substantially as set forth.

CAMPBELL P. HIGGINS. Witnesses:

CHAs. W. FORBES, E. MAOENTEE. 

